Is Duke legend Jayson Tatum going to play for the Boston Celtics soon?
Duke legend Jayson Tatum was widely expected to miss the 2025-26 NBA season for the Boston Celtics after tearing his Achilles tendon on May 12.
However, Celtics forward Jaylen Brown believes his teammate could play this season.
"JT just always recovers," Brown said on the stream. "He always recovers. ... He'll probably break the record for fastest recovery in Achilles history or some (expletive). I wouldn't put it past him."
Tatum was the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Duke. The forward spent just one season at Duke, averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Duke went 28-9 with Tatum leading the way in 2016-17. They were upset by South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Tatum's best total with Duke was 28 against Virginia on February 15, 2017.
Tatum has established himself as one of the best Duke players to ever play in the NBA. He's made six All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams with the Celtics. The talented swingman has career averages of 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks in the NBA.
Tatum helped the Celtics win the 2024 championship against the Dallas Mavericks. He told DJ Siddiqi of Poker Strategy back in October that he hasn't ruled out playing this season.
"I'm there every day I practice," Tatum said. "I'm not practicing with them, but I'm in all the film sessions. When they're on the court practicing, I'm rehabbing and doing my stuff. But I've been there every day with them. Nobody's pressuring me. The team, the doctor, the organization, everybody is just like, 'We want you to be 100% before you come back.'"
Bill Simmons of The Ringer said at the start of the month that he's hearing Tatum could play this season.
Let's see if it happens.
"From everything I've heard across the board, he's been relentless and a maniac," Simmons said. "Passed every checkpoint and has done everything possible to come back as soon as possible at 100 percent. Not 94 percent. They're understandably being careful, but at some point, it's like if he's ready to play, let's play him. What are we waiting for?
"I feel more confident than ever with the way that this team is responding that he'll be back."